Sometimes J and I like to take quick trips across the border for a couple hours of shopping. I have an obsession with Trader Joes so I often beg him for us to go. I recently had to renew my passport and just got it back in the mail so I was dying to give it whirl and go. When we go across the border it’s also pretty common for us to go for lunch as well, perhaps I can make this a tradition. My parents have told me about El Gitano’s in Bellingham located at 1125 E sunset dr, and it’s just  about 2 minutes away from Trader Joe’s so I just drove there without J even knowing where we were going.

It’s in the strip mall where K Mart is, right beside a thrift shop. From the outside it doesn’t seem that big, but on the inside it’s quite large and advertises karaoke as well. Who knew so there were so many die hard karaoke fans in Belllingham? We were seated right away and the waiter also brought us fresh chips and salsa immediately. If you follow my blog then you’ll know how I love free complimentary starters. The salsa was so yummy! It had a good kick to it with the perfect amount of seasoning. The chips were also warm as well which was a bonus. The second someone noticed we were getting low a new bowl of salsa was brought out.

We both ordered Margaritas on the rocks. I am sure for a Sunday lunch this is pretty rare in Bellingham, people are just getting out of church or relaxing but we’re crazy Canadians and anytime is a good time for a cocktail. A word to the wise though, stir your drink first. All the tequila sits on top and if your J ( a person who doesn’t use a straw) you’ll think it’s really strong until you stir it. If you’re me (someone who uses a straw) you’re going to end up drinking the mix first and then when you stir in the tequila after your halfway done it will taste like a double. Now that woke me up!

I ordered a “small” combo, which included a taco, a tamale, rice and beans. I took a bite out of the taco first and it was stuffed full. A lot of seasoned ground beef, lettuce and tomato. Not at all spicy but it had a great taste to it. I tried to steal some of J’s sour cream and guacamole but he karate chopped my fork so I didn’t get much. The guac tasted delicious though. The tamale was also quite good, stuffed with seasoned pork. The rice was hot, fluffy and tasted great too. Quite often it tastes like its been sitting around in a warmer for 3 days.

J ordered flautas with beef. This sort of surprised me because he usually doesn’t like crunchy things but he really enjoyed these. Flautas are similar to a Taquito, which are rolled up flour tortillas stuffed with meat and cheese then fried so they’re crispy on the outside. I had to google the difference because they sound so similar. Flautas are flour torillas, and Taquitos are made of corn tortillas. However, you can also find Taquitos made from flour tortillas and Flautas made from corn……confused? Me to. Whatever you want to call it, J was in Mexican heaven and stuffed him silly. I wish I could have had more of the yummy guacamole.

There are so many Mexican restaurants in Bellingham and I am determined to try them all!!